Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,541, Ezra Finch, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Finch, Ezra
P 3,541
CONTENTS

State of New York
County of Greene ss I certify that on this 7th day of September 1832 personally appeared before Peter King a full of the court of common pleas in & for said county Ezer Litch a resident of the of the town of Greene in said county aged sixty five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States at the under the following named officers and services herein stated
At the commencement of the War of the revolution he belonged to a company of Connecticut militia at Horse Neck in said state where alarms and incursions into the country were so frequent by the enemy that he was subjected in order to oppose them to military duty in the service of the United States as a militia man & a private soldier almost continually during said War. His services were generally performed in scouting being sometimes engaged in large & some times in small parties as circumstances required. Very under the particular regulation he was sometimes under the command of an officer & sometimes under another & some times he was commanded by sergeants. In this way he was under arms almost continually night & day. He sometimes served under Captain Wadsworth of the militia of Connecticut sometimes under Captain Benjamin Brush of the same. These are all the names of officers he now recollects except Colonel Mead under whom he ser-

ever when called out in large parties & who was Colonel of the regiment to which he belonged. He was at Danbury arrived there just after that town was by the enemy burnt, & was one who after engaged in pursuing them out of there town. He appeared there in action several times at Horse Neck of course at Redford and at many other places. He was in a battle also at a place called Frog's Neck near Hurlgate in the state of New York. He does not recollect who were the officers that commanded in any of those actions for the troops with whom he served always went to oppose the enemy in a hurry when an alarm was given & returned so. He is con- fident that the time he was in employment the actual service of the United States as of course was more than six years He cannot recollect more dates nor many of the particulars of his service
Besides the foregoing service he enlisted at one time during the war under Captain Potter Mear of the continental army in the regiment of Colonel Mear for six months. He served under this enlistment at New York before that city was taken by the enemy for some time (he does not remember how long) when being taken sick he was permitted by his commanding officer to go home & remain there until he should be well enough for duty; but he did not recover from his indisposition so as to return to duty before the term of his enlistment expired.
He has no documentary evidence as yet he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except Jonathan Smith and Nathan Lockwood whose affidavits are herunto annexed

He was born at Horse Neck in the State of Connecticut on the 14th day of August 1757 He has no record of his age except on a piece of paper which was copied from his father's family record
He was living when called into service at Horse Neck of course He lived there until nearly a year after the close of the revolutionary war; he then removed to North Salem - Westchester County in the state of New York where he lived two years or more; he then removed to Granville in the County of Grant & State of New York where he has lived ever since & now lives
Except the term of six months for which he enlisted he was called into service as before mentioned by being called on with the militia & who were so situated as to be obliged to be always ready for service & who were virtually always in service Though generally at or near home He never received a discharge from the service
He is known in his present neighborhood to Nathaniel V. Fancher Henry Bagardus James P. Greene & Joshua Baker who certify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present annual claim that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
Ezra French
Sworn to & subscribed this 7th day of September 1832 before me
Perkins King Judge as aforesaid

We William Stuart a clergyman residing in the town of Greenwich County of Green & State of New York and Joshua Baker residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ezra Linn who has subscribed to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in their opinion
Sworn to & subscribed This 10th day of September 1832 before me
Perkins King
Judge of assizes for me
William his X Stuart Joshua mark Baker
The said Stuart made his mark being unable to see to write
And I the undersigned do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And I further certify that it appears to me that William Stuart who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Greenwich & neighbor to the applicant and that Joshua Baker who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. I also certify that the applicant cannot, in my opinion, from lack of ability & facility of utterance converse. I further certify that on his examination it appeared to me that his memory was much impaired by age which affected his recitation being giving as minute an account of his services as he otherwise might have done.
Perkins King
Judge of assizes

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
May 27, 1927
Mrs. S. A. Mangam Cairo N. Y.
Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 3541, it appears that Ezra Finch was born August 4, 1757 at Horse Neck, Connecticut, and applied for pension, September 7, 1832, while a resident of Greenville, Greene County, New York, and alleged that while residing at Horse Neck, Connecticut, he served at various times as a private in the Connecticut Troops, War of the Revolution, under Captains David Warren or Ware, Benjamin Brush, Porter Mead, Colonel Mead, and was in the alarm when Danbury was burned, and the battle of Frog's (Throg's) Neck.
The claim was not allowed, as he failed to furnish proof of six months service, as required by the pension law.
There is no data as to family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

1927-May 27-Heist to Mrs. S. A. Mangum avg. 1927-June 27 " " Mrs. Rosevel Velie avg.
REJECTED
3541
P. O. _____
John Finch
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
The printed list of 1852- shows reasons for suspension
Alleges: "Period, grade, duration, locality and commanders in field & company
Re-enlisted: are all indispensable for each tour"
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

New York
Revol
Ezra Finch
L suspended
3541
see letter to
Perkins King
23 rd Aug t 1833 -
Act 7 June 1832 -

Verkins King
23 rd Augt 33
Al
Re vol. 10
Waltig

War Department Pension Off 23. Aug 1833
Sir,
The claim of Ezra Finch has been examined and suspended. His papers were returned to you on 8 May last requiring him "to furnish the date & length of each tour of service with the names of officers &c." This has not been done but a general declaration of an aggregate amount of service offered. This is inadmissible under the regulations. Each item of service should be distinctly set forth — His papers are placed in our files.
abt 7. June
Perkins Wingard by Nichols

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Ezra Finch which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes
V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? no
Applicant is required to furnish the date & length of each term of service, with the names of the officers, and the best evidence he can obtain to sustain his declaration.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? The Judge has
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? no
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? no

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Witness
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? The Judge has
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
REQUIRE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
REQUIRE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

June 10. N.Y.
Freehold N.J.
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington City Pension Office
14376

Seaholm Green Co May 11 th June 3 rd 1833
(62)
The additional affidavits of Mr. Finch as to a large class of money etc. will be considered as concluding his papers more perfect. His memory is so much impaired that it is impossible for him to recollect dates or length of his services or the names of the officers, more precisely or fully than is set forth in his declaration. If therefore the offi- cial record which is now added be not sufficient he of course must fail of success. His papers are returned for your decision thereon.
I have the honor to be very re- spectfully Your Obedient Servant
Perkins Will
James L. Edwards Esq

State of New York } Green County ss }
Jatham Smith of the town of Granville in said county being duly sworn according to law before Perkins King a judge of the court of common pleas in & for said county deposes & states that during the war of the revolution he was well acquainted with Ezra Fink who then resided at Horse Neck in the state of Connecticut & who now resides at Granville of our said state. That deponent knows in the family of said Ezra Fink at Horse Neck that he knows that said Fink was in the service of the United States almost continually during said war at Horse Neck being generally employed against the enemy in scouting parties.
Sworn to & subscribed this 6th day of September 1832 before me
Perkins King Judge as of our said
Jatham Smith
I Perkins King a judge of the court of common pleas in & for the county of our said state hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jatham Smith who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavit & that he is a credible person & entitled to credit.
Perkins King Judge as of our said

State of New York 321
County of Greene 322 Nathan Lockwood of the town of Cairo in said County being duly sworn according to law before Perkins King a Judge of the court of common pleas in & for said County deposeth & saith that during the war of the revolution he was well acquainted with Ezra Fink who then lived at Horse Neck in the state of Connecticut & who now lives in the town of Greenville in the state of New York. That at the commencement of said war deposeur lived near neighbor to him & after it commenced deposeur was himself in the service of the United States as a soldier & served at Horse Neck that almost every day he saw said Fink in the service of the United States as a private soldier for at least three years. That his services were principally confined to scouting in small parties & to resisting the incursions of the enemy who were generally composed of Tories. That he knows he served under Captain Gehron in Bush of Connecticut militia & Captain David Wrenn of the same in the regiment of Colonel Mear. Said Fink served as far as deposeur witnessed his services in the militia of the state of Connecticut
Nathan Lockwood
Sworn & subscribed
This 7th day of September
1832 before me
Perkins King Judge of said court
I Perkins King the aforesaid Judge hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Nathan Lockwood who has sworn to & subscribed the above affidavit and that he is a credible person & entitled to credit. Perkins King Judge of said court

State of New York
County of Greene
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a judge of the court of common pleas in & for said county Ezra Finch the same person who wrote & subscribed the annexed declaration who being duly sworn deposes and says that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he can not swear as to the date of his service any more precisely than he has sworn in his said declaration nor as to the length of it nor can he recollect after the Revolution war of the names of the officers under whom he served than he states in said declaration but according to the best of his recollection he served next to the period of four years all which service he performed as a private or noncommissioned service he claimed pension.
Sworn to and subscribed Ezra Finch
This 25th day of May 1833
before me
Porter King judge of said court
12.7/14

MRS. ROSCOE VELIE GREENVILLE, NEW YORK
April 4, 1927.
U. S. Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Yours of the 2nd received. I can give you the following information regarding the pension of Ezra Finch or his widow Ruth Townsend:
Ezra Finch Born Aug. 4, 1757 Died Nov. 14, 1839
Ruth, his wife Born Sept. 30, 1764 Died May 8, 1822
I do not know his place of residence at enlistment but he lived near Greenville Centre (formerly called Hemlock) in town of Greenville, Greene County, New York. But probably would be designated as town of Catskill, as Greenville was not founded until after the Revolution.
Please give me as prompt a reply as possible, as I have only till Aug. 1st. to obtain the information. Thanking you I am, yours truly, Mrs. Roscoe Velie

Cairo, New York, March 19, 1927
The Commissioner of Pensions, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
Sir:
Do your records show please, a pensioner by the name of Ebenezer Finch, born in Stamford, Conn. but who lived in Albany County?

He seems rather elderly to have served in the Revolution, but there is a record of service by one of that name, from Albany County -
He or his wife Hannah Newman may have obtained a pension -
His son Ezra Finch, and wife Ruth Townsend, may also have applied for pensions -
This Ezra only was the right age for Revolutionary service -
Thanking you in advance -
I am - Yours very truly, (Mrs S. A.). Jennie W. Mangam Registrar of County D. A. R. - Chapter -

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Finch, Isaac GRADE Fifer LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 5801 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED June 19, 1790
to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.